Enhancement of thermophilic anaerobic digestion of thickened waste activated sludge by combined microwave and alkaline pretreatment

Pretreatment of thickened waste activated sludge (TWAS) by combined microwave and alkaline pretreatment (MAP) was studied to improve thermophilic anaerobic digestion efficiency. Uniform design was applied to determine the combination of target temperature (110–210°C), microwave holding time (1–51 min), and NaOH dose (0–2.5 g NaOH/g suspended solids (SS)) in terms of their effect on volatile suspended solids (VSS) solubilization. Maximum solubilization ratio (85.1%) of VSS was observed at 210°C with 0.2 g-NaOH/g-SS and 35 min holding time. The effects of 12 different pretreatment methods were investigated in 28 thermophilic batch reactors by monitoring cumulative methane production (CMP). Improvements in methane production in the TWAS were directly related to the microwave and alkaline pretreatment of the sludge. The highest CMP was a 27% improvement over the control. In spite of the increase in soluble chemical oxygen demand concentration and the decrease in dewaterability of digested sludge, a semi-continuous thermophilic reactor fed with pretreated TWAS without neutralization (at 170°C with 1 min holding time and 0.05 g NaOH/g SS) was stable and functioned well, with volatile solid (VS) and total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) reductions of 28% and 18%, respectively, which were higher than those of the control system. Additionally, methane yields (L@STP/g-CODadded, at standard temperature and pressure (STP) conditions of 0°C and 101.325 kPa) and (L@STP/g VSadded) increased by 17% and 13%, respectively, compared to the control reactor.     

Potassium ferrate pretreatment promotes short chain fatty acids yield and antibiotics reduction in acidogenic fermentation of sewage sludge

During the acidogenic fermentation converting waste activated sludge (WAS) into short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), hydrolysis of complex organic polymers is a limiting step and the transformation of harmful substances (such as antibiotics) during acidogenic fermentation is unknown. In this study, potassium ferrate (K₂FeO₄) oxidation was used as a pretreatment strategy for WAS acidogenic fermentation to increase the hydrolysis of sludge and destruct the harmful antibiotics. Pretreatment with K₂FeO₄ can effectively increase the SCFA production during acidogenic fermentation and change the distribution of SCFA components. With the dosage of 0.2 g/g TS, the maximum SCFA yield was 4823 mg COD/L, which is 28.3 times that of the control group; acetic acid accounts for more than 90% of the total SCFA. The higher dosage (0.5 g/g TS) can further increase the proportion of acetic acid, but inhibit the overall performance of SCFA production. Apart from the promotion of hydrolysis and acidogenesis, K₂FeO₄ pretreatment can also simultaneously oxidizes and degrades part of the antibiotics in the sludge. When the dosage is 0.5 g/g TS, the degradation efficacy of antibiotics is the most significant, and the contents of ofloxacin, azithromycin, and tetracycline in the sludge are reduced by 69%, 42%, and 50%, respectively. In addition, K₂FeO₄ pretreatment can also promote the release of antibiotics from sludge flocs, which is conducive to the simultaneous degradation of antibiotics in the subsequent biological treatment process.     

Combined alkaline and ultrasonic pretreatment of sludge beforeaerobic digestion

Alkaline and ultrasonic sludge disintegration can both be used as pretreatments of waste activated sludge (WAS) for improving the subsequent anaerobic or aerobic digestion. The pretreatment has been carried out using different combination of these two methods in this study. The effect was evaluated based on the quantity of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) in the pretreated sludge as well as the degradation of organic matter in the following aerobic digestion. For WAS samples with combined pretreatment, the released COD was in high level than those with ultrasonic or alkaline treatment. When combined with the same ultrasonic treatment, NaOH treatment resulted in more solubilization of WAS than Ca(OH)2. For combined NaOH and ultrasonic treatments with different sequences, the released COD were in the order: simultaneous treatment > ultrasonic treatment following NaOH treatment > NaOH treatment following ultrasonic treatment. For simultaneous treatment, low NaOH dosage (100 g/kg dry solid), short duration (30 min) of NaOH treatment, and low ultrasonic specific energy (7 500 kJ/kg dry solid) were beneficial for sludge disintegration. Using combined NaOH and ultrasonic pretreatment with the optimium parameters, the degradation efficiency of organic matter was increased from 38.0% to 50.7%, which is much higher than with ultrasonic (42.5%) or with NaOH pretreatment (43.5%) in the subsequent aerobic digestion at the same retention time.     

预处理破稳污泥木质纤维素并厌氧降解实验研究

剩余污泥中往往含有大量木质纤维素物质,其在厌氧消化过程中难以降解,最终残留于熟污泥中,这也是导致污泥有机物稳定并转化能源效率低下的主要原因之一.针对污泥中木质纤维素的结构稳定性,本实验选择酸、碱、热解及超声波4种预处理方式,采用适宜的条件预处理剩余污泥,在一定程度上破坏污泥中木质纤维素结构,继而进行污泥厌氧消化,获得了较好的木质纤维素降解率.同时,实验筛选出热解为最佳的预处理技术方式.在T=150℃与t=30 min预处理工况下,污泥在厌氧消化后最高可实现52.6%的木质纤维素降解率,主要归功于半纤维素和纤维素的大幅降解.相对未预处理污泥,预处理能有效促进木质纤维素类物质的厌氧消化,从而提高污泥有机质的能源转化率.     

预处理对造纸污泥厌氧消化产甲烷性能的影响研究

采用碱(NaOH)和生物(蘑菇渣、绿色木霉)2种方法分别预处理造纸污泥,并将预处理后的造纸污泥与味精废液进行联合厌氧消化,研究不同预处理方式对造纸污泥的影响以及对后续联合厌氧消化甲烷产率的影响.结果表明,造纸污泥经过碱(NaOH)预处理和生物预处理(蘑菇渣、绿色木霉)后,污泥颗粒的结构变得紧实、平滑,颗粒间的孔隙度减少,污泥絮体中的纤维长度明显变短、污泥中的SCOD增加了35.5%~1130%、VSS降低了6%~19%、SVsludge增加了32%~192%,NH3-N浓度提高了36%~62.4%,表明预处理后污泥中的大分子物质被降解成小分子物质,且碱预处理对污泥产生的变化较生物处理大;经预处理后的造纸污泥与味精废液联合厌氧消化,甲烷得率分别为:NaOH预处理0.32m3 CH4/kg VS、蘑菇渣预处理0.23 m3 CH4/kg VS,较CK分别提高了54%~88%和12%~34%,可见碱预处理提高甲烷产率效果更明显,由于蘑菇渣预处理具有成本低、解决二次污染、实现废物再利用等优点,因此两者在预处理提高造纸污泥厌氧消化甲烷产率方面都具有重要意义.     

New insights into the evaluation of anaerobic properties of sludge: Biodegradability and stabilization

Evaluating anaerobic biodegradability of sludge and then identifying the stabilization of digestate is necessary in sludge treatment and disposal. 48 sludge samples from 24 typical waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) in 11 provinces in China were selected to investigate the relationship between Biochemical Acidogenic Potential (BAP) test and Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) test. The volatile fatty acid (VFA) production obtained from BAP tests was found linearly related to the ultimate methane production from corresponding BMP tests. Satisfying results were obtained with Pearson correlation coefficient as 0.929 and R² value as 0.76. Furthermore, the physio-chemical characteristics (FCI, SUVA₂₅₄, E₄/E₆) of supernatant, which were associated with humic-like substances (HS), were investigated before and after BMP tests. Through which a new criterion (FCI>1.50, SUVA₂₅₄>1.10, E₄/E₆<4.0) was proposed to evaluate the stabilization level of anaerobic digested sludge.     

Effects of ultrasonic pretreatment on sludge dewaterability and extracellular polymeric substances distribution in mesophilic anaerobic digestion

Effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on sludge dewaterability was determined and the fate of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) matrix in mesophilic anaerobic digestion after ultrasonic pretreatment was studied. Characteristics of proteins (PN), polysaccharides (PS), excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular weight (MW) distribution of dissolved organic matters (DOM) in different EPS fractions were evaluated. The results showed that after ultrasonic pretreatment, the normalized capillary suction time (CST) decreased from 44.4 to 11.1 (sec·L)/g total suspended solids (TSS) during anaerobic digestion, indicating that sludge dewaterability was greatly improved. The normalized CST was significantly correlated with PN concentration (R2 = 0.92, p 0.01) and the PN/PS ratio (R2 = 0.84, p 0.01) in the loosely bound EPS (LB-EPS) fraction. Meanwhile, the average MW of DOM in the LB- EPS and tightly bound EPS (TB-EPS) fractions also had a good correlation with the normalized CST (R2 0.66, p 0.01). According to EEM fluorescence spectroscopy, tryptophan-like substances intensities in the slime, LB-EPS and TB-EPS fractions were correlated with the normalized CST. The organic matters in the EPS matrix played an important role in influencing sludge dewaterability.     

Effects of sludge age on anaerobic acidification of waste activated sludge: Volatile fatty acids production and phosphorus release

Effects of sludge age on volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production and Phosphorus (P) release during anaerobic acidification of waste activated sludge (WAS) were investigated. Sequencing batch reactors (SBR) fed with simulating domestic sewage were applied to produce WAS of different sludge ages, and batch tests were used for anaerobic acidification. The maximum dissolved total organic carbon, release of  ${\text{PO}}_4^{3+}?\mathrm{P}$, and accumulation of acetate (C2), propionate (C3), butyrate (C4), and valerate (C5) decreased by 56.2%, 55.8%, 52.6%, 43.7%, 82.4% and 84.8%, respectively, as the sludge age of WAS increased from 5 to 40 days. Limited degradation of protein played a dominating role in decreasing DTOC and VFAs production. Moreover, the increase in molecular weight of organics and organic nitrogen content in the supernatant after acidification suggested that the refractory protein in WAS increased as sludge age extended. Although the production of C2, C3, C4, and C5 from WAS decreased as the sludge age increased, the proportions of C2 and C3 in VFAs increased, which might be due to the declined production of C5 from protein and the faded genus Dechlorobacter. Keeping sludge age of WAS at a relatively low level (<10 days) is more appropriate for anaerobic acidification of WAS as internal carbon sources and P resource.     

Effect of nitrite on hydrolysis-acidification, biogas production and microbial community in semi-continuous two-phase anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge

Previous study found that the pre-treatment of sewage sludge with nitrite improves the biogas production during the mono/two-phase anaerobic digestion (AD) using batch biochemical methane potential tests. In this study, the effects of nitrite on hydrolysis-acidification, biogas production, volatile solids destruction and microbial composition in semi-continuous two-phase AD of sewage sludge were investigated. The addition of nitrite promotes sludge organic matter solubilization (+484%) and VFAs production (+98.9%), and causes an increase in the VS degradation rate during the AD process (+8.7%). The comparison of biogas production from the acidogenic and methanogenic reactors with or without the addition of nitrite implies that the nitrite has no significant effect on the overall biogas production of two-phase sludge AD process. High-throughput sequencing analysis shows that the microbial communities of bacteria and archaea in two-phase AD reactors significantly changes after the addition of nitrite. Vulcanibacillus (bacteria) and Candidatus Methanofastidiosum (archaea) become the dominant genera in the acidogenic and methanogenic reactors with the nitrite respectively. These findings provide new insights about using nitrite to promote the organic matter degradation of sewage sludge in a semi-continuous two-phase AD system.     

Effects of substrate types on the transformation of heavy metal speciation and bioavailability in an anaerobic digestion system

Chemical speciation can fundamentally affect the potential toxicity and bioavailability of heavy metals. The transformation of heavy metal speciation and change of bioavailability were investigated in an anaerobic digestion (AD) system using four different substrates (pig manure (PM), cattle manure (CAM), chicken manure (CHM) and rice straw (RS)). The results obtained indicated that the total contents of heavy metals in PM, CHM and CAM were higher than in RS and decreased in the order Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb > As > Cd in all substrates. Moreover, the speciation with the largest proportion for each heavy metal was the same both in the different substrates and the biogas residues. Among them, Zn, Ni, Cd and As were mainly in the reducible fraction (F2), while Cu was mainly in the oxidizable fraction (F3) and Pb occurred predominantly in the residual fraction (F4). Our results further indicated that the AD process had a greater effect on the speciation of heavy metals in CHM and PM, but less on CAM and RS. The rates of change in bioavailability followed the order PM > CHM > CAM > RS. Changes in organic matter, humic acid or local metal ion environment as a result of AD were inferred as likely mechanisms leading to the transformation of heavy metal speciation. These results enhanced our understanding of the behavior of heavy metals in AD and provided a new perspective for the treatment and disposal of the substrates.     

城市污泥厌氧消化和脱水工艺对肠道病原菌的杀灭效应

运用最大或然数(MPN)培养法和定量PCR(qPCR)技术对不同城市污水处理厂污泥厌氧消化处理和脱水处理前后,污泥中埃希氏大肠杆菌(E.coli)、沙门氏菌(Salmonellaspp.)和志贺氏菌(Shigellaspp.)含量的变化进行了研究.MPN检测结果表明,污泥中大肠杆菌、沙门氏菌和志贺氏菌数量经厌氧消化处理后明显下降,平均下降2～5个数量级,但qPCR检测结果显示,种病原菌平均下降1～2个数量级.脱水处理3后,污泥中的肠道病原菌含量基本没有变化,没有发生脱水后再生长现象.大肠杆菌、沙门氏菌和志贺氏菌含量分别在104～107、104～105和103～105MPN·g-1(以污泥干重计)之间.MPN和qPCR检测结果之间的差异性显示厌氧消化会造成肠道病原菌的有活性但不可培养状态(VBNC),同时也提示应用传统的培养检测方法检测病原菌含量和评定污泥排放的生物安全性时需慎重.     

水热+厌氧消化对污泥碳、氮、磷溶出的影响

研究了水热预处理和厌氧消化联合作用时温度对污泥中碳、氮、磷溶出的影响。结果表明:水热处理温度越高越有利于污泥中碳氮磷的溶出,当水热温度为200 ℃时,SCODCr的溶出率较原泥提高了5.9倍;氨氮和总氮的溶出率分别提高了7.2和8.7倍;磷酸根和总磷的溶出率分别提高了0.2和6.1倍。厌氧消化后污泥中碳磷浓度下降,而氮浓度上升。厌氧消化后累积产气量与水热温度有关:当温度为160 ℃时,最大累积产甲烷量为12 223 L/mg-CO D C H 4 (以每mg COD的产甲烷量计),较原泥提高了14.5倍。根据试验结果,提出了从水热和厌氧消化污泥中回收氮磷的策略,即水热处理污泥后可在污泥清液中投加镁源进行磷的回收,厌氧消化中溶出的氮可通过加入吸附材料进行吸附回收。在污泥中氮磷资源回收的同时,可通过水热过程提高污泥厌氧过程中累积产甲烷量。     

EDTA对剩余污泥磷释放及MAP法磷回收影响

探究乙二胺四乙酸（EDTA）的添加对剩余污泥厌氧过程中磷释放及后续鸟粪石（MAP）法磷回收的影响.根据EDTA添加量对污泥上清液中总磷（TP）、蛋白质、多糖、DNA和SCOD的影响确定了最优释磷条件,采用响应曲面法（RSM）构建MAP磷回收的二次多项式模型并验证了模型的有效性.结果表明：EDTA添加量为5mmol/L,厌氧5d时预处理效果最佳.污泥SCOD破解度（DD）和TP、DNA、蛋白质及多糖均有显著相关,其中TP相关性最强,皮尔逊相关系数为0.866.MAP磷回收的最佳工艺参数是：pH=9.5,n（Mg）：n（P）=1.6,搅拌时间22min,此时磷回收率可达95.68%,形成晶体的主要成分为磷酸铵镁（MgNH₄PO₄·6H₂O）,纯度为79.19%.     

Effect of manganese oxide-modified biochar addition on methane production and heavy metal speciation during the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge

Low organic matter content and high heavy metal levels severely inhibit the anaerobic digestion (AD) of sewage sludge. In this study, the effect of added manganese oxide-modified biochar composite (MBC) on methane production and heavy metal fractionation during sewage sludge AD was examined. The MBC could increase the buffering capacity, enhance the methane production and degradation of intermediate acids, buffer the pH of the culture, and stabilize the sewage sludge AD process. The application of MBC positively impacted methane production and the cumulative methane yield increased up to 121.97%, as compared with the control. The MBC addition can improve metal stabilization in the digestate. An optimum MBC dose of 2.36?g was recommended, which would produce up to 121.1?L/kg volatile solids of methane. After the AD process, even though most of the metals accumulated in the residual solids, they could be transformation from the bio-available fractions to a more stable fraction. The total organic- and sulfide-bound and residual fraction content at a 3?g dose of MBC that is 0.12?g/g dry matter were 51.06% and 35.11% higher than the control, respectively. The results indicated that the application of MBC could improve the performance of AD and promote stabilization of heavy metals in sewage sludge post the AD process.     

Enhancing short-term ethanol-type fermentation of waste activated sludge by adding saccharomycetes and the implications for bioenergy and resource recovery

Ethanol-type sludge fermentation has recently attracted much attention because it can enhance direct interspecies electron transfer and thus improve the anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge(WAS). In this paper, the enhancement of short-term ethanol-type fermentation of WAS via adding Saccharomyces was investigated. The experimental results show that the maximum ethanol production of 1030.8 ± 20.6 mg/L was achieved, with the optimum fermentation conditions of a p H of 5.1, temperature of...     

低温条件下分流式侧流-AAO工艺污水处理及同步污泥减量效果研究

当前剩余污泥产量巨大及低温条件下运行不稳定是城市污水处理厂活性污泥技术面临的主要挑战和制约.基于此,本文通过向厌氧-缺氧-好氧(AAO)系统中的污泥回流系统引入分流式侧流厌氧系统,以实现强化污水处理和同步污泥减量的目标.结果发现,当侧流分流比例为30%时,分流式侧流-AAO系统能够实现最好的污泥减量效果,污泥累计排放量减少18.43%,污泥表观产率下降19.70%;并且分流式侧流-AAO系统的COD、氨氮和总氮去除效率分别为88.56%、83.12%和71.60%,均略高于AAO系统.同时该条件下,分流式侧流-AAO系统能够在51 d后实现良好的总磷去除效率,并维持出水TP浓度稳定在0.50 mg·L,而AAO系统则需要93 d后才能实现稳定的总磷去除效果.在适当的分流比条件下,分流式侧流厌氧池内能够实现TN的有效去除,可以作为提升水处理系统脱氮能力的潜在手段.     

黄花和脱水污泥厌氧消化的温室气体减排研究

采用联合国政府间气候委员会(IPCC)推荐的方法,对植物加拿大一枝黄花和污泥生物质厌氧消化产沼气的环境和能量影响进行了评估.环境影响评估重点关注温室气体(GHG)减排,将加拿大一枝黄花和脱水污泥的中温小试厌氧消化的甲烷产率数据运用于GHG减排潜质的计算;能量评估包括污泥贮存及传播、消化液的沼气逃逸,及化学肥料和化学药剂的投加几个过程中的直接和间接的能量输入.结果表明,一枝黄花和脱水污泥联合厌氧消化净GHG排放量随着SRT的缩短和黄花添加比例的增加而逐渐下降,在二者以挥发性固体(VS)比例1:1混合,停留时间为20d时的能量效率较高,GHG减排量较大,与基础方案相比,添加黄花可以实现78%的净GHG减排.     

污泥厌氧消化和后续处理中沙门氏菌杀灭及VBNC发生

应用最大或然数(MPN)培养法和反转录定量PCR(RT-qPCR)技术研究了4种污泥厌氧消化方式以及后续处理过程中沙门氏菌杀灭及有活性但不可培养(VBNC)状态的发生情况.中温厌氧消化(MAD)和高温预处理后中温消化(65℃+MAD)的沙门氏菌分别减少了2.8和5.6个数量级;高温厌氧消化(TAD)和高温-中温两相厌氧消化(TPAD)的沙门氏菌含量均低于检测限.沙门氏菌的杀灭速率常数排序为65℃+MAD>TAD>TPAD> MAD.结果显示高温对病原菌的灭活效果显著增加,高温短时预处理使得杀灭速率明显加快.TAD和TPAD的污泥VBNC沙门氏菌数量高于MAD和65℃+MAD 2个数量级,表明长时间的高温厌氧消化易导致沙门氏菌进入VBNC状态.消化污泥经过离心脱水后会出现沙门氏菌数量增加的现象,MAD、65℃+MAD、TAD和TPAD的消化污泥中沙门氏菌分别增加了1.1、2.4、3.7和2.5个数量级.但其中VBNC状态的沙门氏菌数量明显降低了1~3个数量级,表明消化后污泥中部分VBNC沙门氏菌在离心脱水过程中复活并生长,使得MPN检测得到的可培养沙门氏菌数量增加,初步解释了消化污泥经离心脱水后的病原菌再生长现象.消化污泥中沙门氏菌数量在室温放置过程中会进一步下降.     

Responses of alkaline phosphatase activity to wind-driven waves in a large, shallow lake: Implications for phosphorus availability and algal blooms

Phosphorus is a vital nutrient for algal growth, thus, a better understanding of phosphorus availability is essential to mitigate harmful algal blooms in lakes. Wind waves are a ubiquitous characteristic of lake ecosystems. However, its effects on the cycling of organic phosphorus and its usage by phytoplankton remain poorly elucidated in shallow eutrophic lakes. A mesocosm experiment was carried out to investigate the responses of alkaline phosphatase activity fractions to wind waves in large, shallow, eutrophic Lake Taihu. Results showed that wind-driven waves induced the release of alkaline phosphatase and phosphorus from the sediment, and dramatically enhanced phytoplanktonic alkaline phosphatase activity. However, compared to the calm conditions, bacterial and dissolved alkaline phosphatase activity decreased in wind-wave conditions. Consistently, the gene copies of Microcystis phoX increased but bacterial phoX decreased under wind-wave conditions. The ecological effects of these waves on phosphorus and phytoplankton likely accelerated the biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus and promoted phytoplankton production in Lake Taihu. This study provides an improved current understanding of phosphorus availability and the phosphorus strategies of plankton in shallow, eutrophic lakes.     

Ca2+与CO32-协同作用对MAP结晶法去除污泥厌氧消化液中磷的影响

以模拟厌氧消化液为处理对象,进行了磷酸铵镁(MAP)结晶实验,考察了p H值、CO2-3、Ca2+以及CO2-3和Ca2+共存对磷酸铵镁结晶反应的影响;利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM-EDX)、X射线衍射(XRD)和傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)对产物进行了表征.结果表明,随着p H值升高,磷的去除率显著提高,并在p H值为9.5时得到具有良好沉降性能的针状MAP晶体;CO2-3的存在会使磷去除率降低,在实验设定CO2-3浓度最大的条件下,磷去除率降低约17%,同时CO2-3会削弱Ca2+对MAP结晶反应的贡献,但并不改变MAP晶体形态和纯度;Ca2+存在则可以提高P去除率,但对MAP结晶反应抑制作用显著,当体系中n(Ca)/n(Mg)0.65,产物主要以无定形磷酸钙盐为主;在Ca2+与CO2-3共存的体系中,Ca2+可有效地消除CO2-3对除磷效果的影响,随着两者浓度的增加,产物Ca CO3含量增多,磷酸盐则主要以MAP形式沉淀.